I meet Blake for lunch in Maide Vale, in a restaurant that reflects the laid-back style of the area.
‘Why are we meeting here?’ I ask.
‘Got something to show you,’ he says.
‘What?’ I ask curiously. His eyes are twinkling, he laughs at my impatience.
‘Why spoil the surprise?’
‘OK.’
After lunch, Tom drives us to an apartment block in the middle of Little Venice. We get out and take the lift to the fifth floor. Blake fishes a key out of his pocket, and with a lopsided smile at my uncomprehending frown puts the key into the door and opens it. We step into an empty apartment. I am immediately drawn to the balcony. It has a wonderful view of all the waterways and canals that make up Little Venice. Pretty amazing.
‘Do you like it?’
‘Yeah,’ I say carefully, not sure where this is going. And then suddenly it hits me. This is my kiss-off present at the end of our 42 days. I keep a bright smile on my face, hope it doesn’t look too false, and turn around.
He has taken Sorab out of the pram and is coming towards me with him in his arms. ‘He’ll drool all over your suit,’ I say, trying to appear normal.
‘Come, I’ll show you the rest,’ he says. He seems almost excited. That kind of annoys me. I remember Jack saying, no man wants a woman for just 42 days. You’ll end up as his mistress.
Silently, I follow him around the two-bedroom flat. The main bedroom is sunny and spacious, but my heart is breaking inside. He wants to stash me away here!
‘Do you think Billie will like it?’
‘Billie?’ I ask, confused.
He nods. ‘You know her taste, do you think she will like it?’
I frown. ‘Why?’
‘It’s for her.’
‘What?’ I laugh. A crazy cackle.
‘Well?’
I laugh again with relief. It is tumbling inside me like an upturned bowl of marbles. The sound a joy to behold. ‘She’ll love it.’
‘That’s settled then,’ he says, in a satisfied tone. ‘It is in your name, of course, since I know that she keeps…er…complicated financial arrangements with the Her Majesty’s government, but whenever she becomes financially independent you can transfer it into her name.’
‘Why are you doing this?’
‘I don’t want you visiting her on that horrible estate. Every time you tell me you are going there I almost break out in hives.’
I can’t stop smiling.
‘Obviously it needs a new bathroom and kitchen, but you girls can redecorate it in any way you want. Just liaise with Laura and she will open accounts wherever you want.’
I am so full of joy I am almost in tears. ‘It is the most wonderful thing that anyone has ever done for Billie.’
He becomes suddenly brusque with embarrassment. ‘Well, I have to get back to the office. Tom will drop you off wherever you want to go. See you at home this evening.’
I throw my arms around his neck. I feel so much love for him I am almost in tears. ‘Thank you,’ I whisper. ‘Thank you so much.’ I pull back and look deeply into his beautiful eyes. ‘I really, really, really love you, you know. With all my heart.’
He bends his head and kisses me tenderly. Why won’t he tell me he loves me? I know he loves me. Someone who is not in love could never do something this generous and delicious.
I go with him to the door. He stops. ‘Who did you think the apartment was for?’
‘Me.’
‘You?’ He seemed genuinely confused. ‘Why would you think that?’
‘I thought it was my kiss-off gift.’
He caresses my cheek with the back of his hand. ‘You have no idea at all, have you? The papers are on the ledge over the fireplace,’ he says, and then he is gone.
I stand in the balcony and watch him leave the building, cross the road and get into the back of a waiting dark blue Rolls-Royce with a silver hood. Then I call Billie.
‘Billie, what are you doing right now?’
‘Watching my nails dry.’
‘Can you get a cab and come meet me in Maida Vale.’
‘Why, what’s in Maida Vale?’
‘Do you want to spoil the surprise?’
‘Why would I wanna do that?’
The bell rings in less than half an hour.
I open the door with a stupid grin on my face. I can’t help it. I am so happy and excited for Billie.
‘I’ve smeared my nail polish so this better be good,’ she says, waving her ruined nails in front of my face.
‘Sorry,’ I say and she steps over the threshold. Just like me she goes immediately to the balcony.
‘Wow, this is some view, isn’t it? Whose place is it?’
‘Yours.’
She turns around slowly. ‘Sorry?’
‘It’s yours. Blake bought it for you.’
‘For me?’ She is frowning.
‘Yup.’
Her eyes are narrowed. ‘Why?’
‘I think he hates Sorab’s godmother to live on a council estate. He was kind of put off by the syringes and the smell in the stairwells.’
‘What do you mean by for me? What happens when your 42 days are up?’
‘You still get to keep it.’
She breaks into a mad grin. ‘A flat right in the middle of classy Little Venice just for little ole me? Wow. You know what, if he hasn’t been straight as a die in all his dealings with you from the moment he met you, I’d never believe it.’
‘Well, it’s in my name at the moment, but as soon as our business picks up and you stop being on the dole, I’ll transfer it into your name.’
I hand her the papers.
She looks at them. ‘Wow, who’d have thought?’ She lifts her face to mine. There are tears in her eyes. She blinks them away proudly.
I smile at her. ‘And you know what is even more exciting? Blake has agreed to pick up the decorating tab. You have carte blanche to decorate it in any way you want.’
‘I just don’t know what to say, Lana,’ she says suddenly.
‘Is it worth messing your nails for?’ I tease.
‘Can you put that child down for one moment,’ she asks gruffly.
I put Sorab into his stroller and she envelops me in a bear hug. ‘Thank you, Lana. I know you don’t pray, so every day I get down on my knees and I pray that everything will work out for you,’ she whispers in my ear.
I pull back. ‘You do?’
She nods solemnly.
‘Thank you,’ I say, and smile. Grateful that she is my friend.